Siblings everywhere, since the dawn of time, have fought with each other over who is the favorite child. In our family, it was me. I remember my older, and less loveable, brother and sister sending me in to ask for things because "Dad won't say no to you, you're his favorite". My siblings were insightful for their young ages. :)
I have two children of my own now, and they are too young to verbalize the fight over who is the favorite, but I see them battling with the feelings. Taryn will say things like, "Why can't Trevor color as good as I can?" or "I am not as cute as Trevor", and Trevor will say things like, "Am I funny, Mommy?" What they are trying to say is, "Who is the favorite???" Since the writing is on the wall about them springing the question on me one day, I have decided to be prepared. I will use a simple point system to score and determine once and for all who is my favorite child.
Taryn is the first born, so that gets her a point.
She is very tender-hearted and worries about people and how they feel more than Trevor does, one more point.
Taryn loves to spend time with Daddy working on the car, or practicing Ninja moves which gives me some time to clean and do schoolwork without her, one point.
She does chores now, point for Taryn.
Taryn is funny. She tells funny jokes, and oinks like a pig. She can always make me laugh when I am having a bad day. One point.
Taryn has the cutest little wrinkle in her nose when she laughs, and I have to give her a point for that because it makes me smile.
She hates the dentist, which earns her a point because I feel that hatred of the dentist has a direct correlation to intelligence.
She hugs me in a way that squeezes away all of my worries and cares, and that has to be worth about five points.
Taryn asks hard questions though, and for that I might have to deduct a point. Questions about God, and dying, and why she can't marry her brother. Those really put me on the spot, and it is usually at bedtime, minus 1.
Oh, but she's a girl so she gets a few girl points for how I get to paint her nails, but bows in her hair, and shop with her for things that make her feel pretty. I will add three for girl power.
Trevor is the baby, so that gives him an easy point.
He has been talking since he was 9 months old, and that made it much easier to take care of him when he was little since he could tell me what he needed, point. It was also super cute!
Trevor loves me. He wants me to "cuddle him" all the time because his bare feet get cold on the hard floors, and he snuggles right into me, one point.
His life is a musical. Literally. It is like he went and took a class on how to live like you are in a musical, and he got an A. Whatever we are talking about causes Trevor to break out into a song of that theme. At dinner, we had to implement a "no singing until you finish eating" rule. Pure awesomeness. One point.
Trevor is my comforter. If I hurt myself he runs to kiss my boo boo, and if I have to yell at Taryn for something, he acts like a perfect angel and tells me how much he loves me as soon as I am done. He says, "I don't like Taryn right now, because she is bad". I teach him that we both still love Taryn because everyone makes mistakes, but I appreciate that he wants to be on my side. Point and point.
Trevor has the softest skin. I like to rub my cheek against his and just smile, point.
Trevor is fearless and carefree. He will try anything, talk to anyone, and not hesitate to tell me how funny he is. He changes regular song lyrics to make the funnier, and does "cool tricks", like "planking" from the couch to the coffee table without anyone ever telling him what planking is. He's cool, and I feel like he's okay in this world. That is a definite five points.
He's a boy which will earn him a few points because his clothes are easier to find, he only has a couple pair of shoes where she has a dozen, and after the bath his hair dries in about five minutes- not the hour that it takes Taryn. Point, point, and point.
On the downside, he is taking far to long to potty train at night, and he still wants me to help him go potty during the day though he is completely able to do everything himself. Minus one, Trevor. You can do better.
I have to factor in the sibling love. They are each others best friend. They chase each other around the house laughing, hug each other until they fall down, and put their hands together and do a cheer that simply shouts, "Brothers and sisters". Neither wants to go to bed without hugging the other goodnight, and when they are not together, they ask for each other. It is a sweet, love-hate- mostly love relationship, and it makes me love them both at least five points more.
So, grand total time. I will finally know who the favorite is...drum roll please.. Taryn earned 14 points and Trevor earned...14 points? A tie. (What a rip off. I was sure I had a favorite!) :) I guess maybe there is no competition, after all. I love Taryn completely with all my heart, and I love Trevor, completely, with all my heart. I don't know how its possible, but I love them both equally, with all that is in me. I hope they believe me when I tell them that in a few years. We certainly never believed it when our parents fed us that line of malarkey.
